If you are following along here, then you know we are looking at one of the hottest, most talked about technologies of 2025: AI (artificial intelligence).
We all know data in the lifecycle of a building or infrastructure asset provides huge value. In the last two weeks, we kicked off a “hot” technology blog series by looking at lifecycle opportunities in design as well as in engineering and construction. Today, let’s expand on this a bit by looking at how AI could extend even further, into building operations and facilities management.
In February, Honeywell released an AI in Building study of U.S. building managers and decision makers with more than 250 building occupants. It found 84% of commercial building decision makers plan to increase their use of AI in the next year to help them improve security, streamline energy management, and integrate predictive maintenance.
AI Opportunities
What are the top priorities for building owners and operators? How can AI help? Here’s a closer look at what the survey found:
Maintenance and repairs: Nearly 60% have already adopted AI for maintenance and repair processes. One of the most common use cases in this area is predictive maintenance, as it can help identify issues before they occur.
Safety and security: Many were using AI to help monitor unusual behavior (63%), track location for occupant safety (52%), and for biometrics-based access control (45%).
Comfort and convenience: More than half (55%) of respondents currently use AI for overall building energy management, 41% use it for water usage monitoring, and 40% implement it for temperature comfort.
Schneider Electric also points to three opportunities for AI in commercial real estate buildings, including designing and constructing more sustainable buildings, operating and maintaining a building’s environmental impact, and full asset lifecycle to enhance the tenant experience.
Speaking of a buildings’ energy use, JLL suggests at least 90% of buildings in the world’s most developed cities are over a decade old, often falling short of today’s energy standards. Improving energy efficiency could make the second-largest impact on reducing carbon emissions in the next decade.
AI, sensors, and realtime data can help analyze and optimize energy—something we have explored time and time again on this blog.
AI Challenges
Certainly, challenges still persist in order to use AI in all areas of building operations and facilities management. For one, 92% of respondents to the Honeywell study indicate challenges in hiring skilled, tech-savvy individuals. This means there is a big opportunity to leverage AI for employee training. Upskilling and reskilling will be key here as well.
There are big opportunities for AI in facilities management, buildings operations, and real estate. In fact, McKinsey Global Institute published a study in 2023 that suggests gen AI could generate $110 billion to $180 billion or more in value for the real estate industry. McKinsey suggests gen AI’s strengths lie in the four “Cs”—customer engagement, creation, concision, and coding solutions.
What are your thoughts? How can AI help in facilities management, building operations, and real estate? We will continue this blog series in the coming week, looking at specific applications for AI, how the technology continues to advance, and how to align people, process, and technology. Stay tuned.
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